Julius Caesar Read online

  216 private griefs personal grievances

  220 orator eloquent speaker, master of rhetoric

  221 plain blunt plain-speaking and forthright

  224 wit intelligence

  225 Action gestures (used by a skilled orator to reinforce his words)

  226 right on directly, truthfully

  229 Brutus i.e. a skilled orator

  231 ruffle up incite, enrage

  240 Wherein for what

  246 several individual

  246 drachmas silver coins; seventy-five would be a generous sum

  252 orchards gardens

  254 common pleasures public parks, pleasure gardens

  255 recreate enjoy

  259 brands burning logs

  259 fire set fire to

  263 forms benches

  263 windows shutters

  264 Mischief evil, harm

  269 straight (go) straight away

  270 upon a wish just as I would have wished

  270 merry in good spirits, inclined toward us

  273 Are rid have ridden

  274 Belike probably

  274 notice of news about

  3.3 Location: a street in Rome

  1 tonight last night

  2 unluckily … fantasy ominously burden my imagination

  3 forth out

  9 directly without evasion/immediately

  18 bear … bang get a beating

  27 he’s a conspirator the First Plebeian confuses Cinna with the conspirator of the same name

  32 Pluck tear, wrench

  33 turn him going set him on his way

  4.1 Location: A private place, Rome

  1 pricked marked down

  2 Your brother Lucius Aemilius Paulus, a supporter of Brutus

  7 spot mark (against his name); may play on the sense of “moral stain,” which would cause damn to resonate with its religious sense

  7 damn condemn (legally)

  10 cut … legacies reduce some of the cost entailed by Caesar’s legacies (to the people; the suggestion is that the will is to be altered)

  12 Or either

  13 slight worthless, insignificant

  14 Meet fit

  15 The … divided after Caesar’s fall, the Roman empire was divided into three parts, each ruled by one of the triumvirs (Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus)

  18 voice vote (regarding)

  19 black sentence sentencing of men to death

  19 proscription branding of men as outlaws (which meant their property was confiscated)

  20 have … days i.e. am older

  22 divers sland’rous loads various burdensome accusations

  24 business task/load

  26 will want it

  27 off away

  28 empty unburdened, idle

  29 commons public fields

  31 tried experienced

  33 appoint … provender provide him with plenty of food

  35 wind turn sharply

  36 corporal bodily

  37 taste degree, sense

  39 barren-spirited dull-minded, lacking initiative

  40 objects … imitations i.e. trivialities, curiosities, things of fashion

  41 staled worn out, made stale

  42 Begin his fashion i.e. he takes as fashionable

  43 property means to an end

  44 Listen hear

  45 levying powers raising armies

  45 make head muster troops

  46 combined united, of one mind

  47 made decided (upon), secured

  47 stretched extended as far as possible

  48 presently immediately

  48 sit in counsel i.e. discuss, be advised

  49 covert … disclosed hidden affairs may best be revealed

  50 open visible, apparent

  50 surest most securely and decisively

  51 at the stake tied to a stake, like a bear being baited with dogs

  52 bayed about surrounded

  54 mischiefs evils, harms

  4.2 Location: a camp near Sardis (the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, Asia Minor); outside Brutus’ tent, into which the action then moves

  1 Stand ho halt

  2 Give … ho pass on the command (to halt)

  5 his master i.e. Cassius

  7 change i.e. changed behavior, altered attitude

  7 ill officers unruly, poor subordinates

  8 worthy justifiable/substantial

  10 be satisfied be resolved, have an explanation

  13 regard respect

  15 he i.e. Cassius

  15 resolved informed

  17 familiar instances signs of friendship

  18 conference conversation

  21 hot eager, devoted

  21 ever always

  23 useth … ceremony manifests itself with forced courtesy

  25 hollow insincere

  25 hot at hand eager at the outset

  26 gallant fine, splendid

  26 mettle vigor, spirit

  march i.e. march played on drums

  27 bloody i.e. spattered with blood from the horse’s sides

  28 fall let fall

  28 crests necks

  28 jades worn-out horses

  29 Sink … trial fail when put to the test

  30 quartered billeted, lodged

  31 horse in general entire cavalry

  powers troops

  34 gently nobly/in an unthreatening manner

  40 brother brother-in-law

  42 should i.e. could I possibly

  46 griefs grievances

  50 enlarge give free voice to

  51 give you audience listen to you

  53 charges troops

  53 off away

  59 noted disgraced, discredited

  61 praying entreating

  62 slighted off slightingly dismissed

  64 meet appropriate

  65 nice petty

  65 bear his comment be subject to such criticism

  67 condemned … palm to blame for your greed

  68 mart trade, barter

  68 offices positions of responsibility

  71 You … last i.e. if you weren’t my friend Brutus, I’d kill you for saying this

  73 honours gives honor to

  74 chastisement punishment

  74 hide his head i.e. is not enforced (with the suggestion of a head hung in shame)

  81 But merely

  81 supporting robbers i.e. permitting corruption

  83 large honours great reputations/powerful positions

  84 trash money

  85 bay howl at

  89 hedge me in restrict me, challenge my authority

  91 make conditions manage affairs

  92 Go to expression of dismissive contempt

  95 forget myself i.e. lose my temper

  96 Have mind upon remember, be concerned for

  97 slight worthless, insignificant/thin, lean

  100 way and room scope

  100 choler rage

  105 budge flinch/give way

  106 observe honor, wait upon

  106 crouch cringe

  107 testy humour irritable mood

  108 digest i.e. be obliged to swallow

  108 spleen bad temper, anger (the spleen was thought to be the seat of strong emotions)

  114 vaunting boasting

  116 of from/about

  121 durst … me would not have dared provoke me in such a manner

  127 presume rely

  132 idle useless/frivolous/inactive

  135 vile means shameful methods (i.e. corruption, extortion)

  136 coin turn into money

  137 drop shed

  137 drachmas silver coins

  138 hard toughened with work/ungenerous

  138 vile worthless, lowly, contemptible

  139 indirection deceit, dishonesty

  144 rascal counters worthless coins

  150 rived split

  151 infirmities flaws, weaknesses


  162 braved challenged, defied

  163 Checked rebuked/restrained

  164 conned by rote memorized through repetition

  168 Dearer more valuable

  168 Pluto fabulously rich Greek god of the underworld

  168 mine silver and gold mines

  169 take it forth i.e. tear this heart out

  176 dishonour … humour i.e. your dishonorable behavior shall be attributed to a bad mood

  177 lamb i.e. the supposedly gentle Brutus

  179 enforcèd acted upon by force (i.e. struck to create a spark)

  179 hasty quick, brief

  183 blood ill-tempered a disordered temperament (physical and mental health was thought to be governed by the four bodily fluids or “humours”; the excess of one would lead to illness or an imbalanced mood)

  190 rash humour i.e. choler, the humor responsible for impetuous anger

  191 forgetful irrational, badly behaved

  194 leave you so i.e. leave it at that

  201 mean i.e. think you are doing

  204 cynic i.e. fault-finder (literally, a follower of Cynic philosophy, which disdained pleasure and enjoyment)

  205 Saucy insolent

  206 fashion manner

  207 I’ll … time I’ll acknowledge his manner when he recognizes the proper occasion for it (time plays on the sense of “musical time, rhythm”)

  208 jigging rhyming in a jerking and metrically unsophisticated manner

  209 Companion rogue, rascal

  217 of with

  218 philosophy usually identified as Stoicism, which valued endurance in the face of hardship, but according to Plutarch, Brutus was a Platonist

  219 place room/precedence

  219 accidental evils chance misfortunes

  223 scaped escaped

  223 crossed challenged, opposed

  224 touching deeply felt

  225 Upon as a result of

  228 her i.e. news of her

  229 That tidings i.e. news of Octavius and Antony’s power

  229 distract mad, deranged

  230 fire specifically, burning coals

  237 o’erswell overflow

  241 call in question discuss

  247 Bending directing

  247 expedition speedy setting forth/military enterprise

  247 Philippi city in Macedonia

  248 tenor drift, substance

  250 proscription … outlawry i.e. legislation declaring some people to be outlaws punishable by death

  270 must die once had to die some day

  272 Even so in just such a manner

  273 art practiced fortitude, learned behavior

  274 nature natural feelings

  274 bear it carry it off, maintain it

  275 alive concerning those who are living/of present importance

  282 offence damage/attack (the opposite of defence)

  284 force necessity

  284 place way

  286 affection allegiance

  287 contribution resources, supplies (including soldiers)

  289 make … up increase its numbers

  290 new-added reinforced, with augmented numbers

  293 These … back behind us (supporting us/cut off from our enemy)

  295 Under your pardon i.e. allow me to continue

  296 tried put (successfully) to the test

  301 taken … flood i.e. set sail on when it is in

  302 Omitted neglected

  303 bound in shallows confined to shallow waters

  306 ventures investments at sea/enterprises

  308 along go along

  311 niggard fob off, stint

  315 gown dressing gown

  327 instrument musical instrument, perhaps a lute

  330 art o’er-watched have been awake (perhaps on guard) for too long

  336 raise rouse, wake

  338 watch your pleasure remain awake and ready to respond to your needs

  340 otherwise bethink me i.e. change my mind

  346 touch i.e. play on

  347 an’t if it

  351 might capabilities, strength

  352 look for need, expect

  355 hold detain

  357 murderous i.e. that gives the appearance of death

  358 leaden mace heavy staff of office (used by a sergeant to arrest offenders by touching them with his mace)

  367 shapes creates, forms

  367 monstrous unnatural

  370 stare stand on end

  378 taken heart gathered my courage

  381 false out of tune

  390 Fellow thou thou, fellow

  398 commend me convey my greetings

  399 set … before set off with his troops early in the morning

  5.1 Location: near Philippi

  3 keep keep to

  4 battles battalions

  5 warn challenge

  6 Answering responding to/encountering for a fight

  6 demand of ask

  7 am … bosoms know their secrets

  8 could be content would like

  9 visit other places be elsewhere, take up different positions

  9 come down attack (by surprise)

  10 fearful bravery alarming bravery/a false show of bravery to hide their fear

  10 face show

  11 fasten fix the impression

  12 ’tis not so they are unable to do so/they have no courage

  14 gallant splendid, smart

  15 bloody … battle red flag, a signal for battle

  16 to is to, must

  17 softly slowly, warily

  18 even level, flat

  20 exigent critical moment

  22 have parley negotiation, during which hostilities were suspended

  25 answer … charge respond when they attack

  26 Make forth go forward

  30 strokes blows

  35 The … blows the nature of your blows, how you will strike

  36 for as for

  36 your words refers to Antony’s deceptively friendly words to the conspirators after Caesar’s murder, or perhaps to his flattering words to the people regarding Caesar’s love for them

  36 Hybla town in Sicily, famed for its honey

  40 buzzing plays on the sense of “rumor mongering”

  41 threat threaten

  42 so i.e. give warning

  44 showed your teeth grinned

  44 apes i.e. fools

  46 cur dog

  49 This … ruled i.e. if Cassius had had his way, Antony would have been killed along with Caesar

  51 cause grounds for hostility, central issue

  52 proof trial (on the battlefield)

  54 goes up is sheathed

  56 another Caesar i.e. myself, Octavius Caesar

  57 added slaughter to i.e. been killed by

  59 thou … thee i.e. those hands are your own

  62 if even if

  62 strain family line

  63 more honourable more honorably (than being killed by Brutus)

  64 peevish foolish/obstinate/ill-tempered

  65 masquer one who participates in masques (theatrical entertainments involving elaborate costumes and dancing)

  70 stomachs courage, appetites (for battle)

  71 billow wave

  71 bark ship

  72 on the hazard at stake

  78 as this this

  81 Pompey was Pompey was reluctantly persuaded into a disastrous final battle with Caesar at Pharsalus in 48 BC

  81 set stake

  83 Epicurus Greek philosopher who believed that the gods were indifferent to human affairs, and thus that omens did not influence the course of events

  85 credit give credit to, believe

  85 presage foretell events

  86 former ensign foremost military banner

  87 fell swooped

  89 consorted accompanied

  91 steads places

  91 ravens … kites scavenging birds considered to be bad omens

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p; 93 As as if

  94 fatal ominous, boding death

  99 constantly resolutely

  100 Even so, Lucilius Brutus finishes his private conversation with Lucilius

  102 The may the

  103 Lovers dear friends

  104 rests still remain always

  105 reason with consider

  109 philosophy the antisuicide sentiment Brutus expresses is Stoic

  110 Cato Portia’s father, an ally of Pompey who committed suicide rather than surrender to Caesar

  111 how i.e. why

  113 fall happen

  113 prevent … life cut short one’s natural lifespan

  115 stay await

  118 in triumph chained to the victor’s chariot during the triumphal return to Rome

  122 great noble

  5.2 Location: the battlefield near Philippi

  5.2 Alarum call to arms, usually with trumpet or drum

  1 bills written commands

  2 other side i.e. Cassius’ division of the army, located in another part of the battlefield

  3 set on advance

  4 cold unenthusiastic/miserable

  4 Octavio’s i.e. Octavius’

  4 wing division of the army

  5 push attack

  6 come down attack (by surprise) 5.3

  1 the villains i.e. Cassius’ own troops

  2 mine own i.e. my own men

  3 ensign military flag-bearer

  4 it i.e. the flag or banner

  7 fell to spoil were slaughtered

  8 enclosed surrounded

  16 hide i.e. dig hard

  18 here back here

  20 even with i.e. as quick as

  22 thick dim, poor

  22 Regard watch

  goes aloft i.e. exits and mounts to the upper staging level or gallery

  24 This … first i.e. it is my birthday

  26 is … compass has come full circle

  30 on the spur rapidly

  32 light alight, dismount

  33 ta’en captured

  38 Parthia now northern Iran

  39 swore thee made you swear

  43 bowels guts, intestines

  43 search probe, i.e. stab

  44 Stand wait

  44 hilts sword handle

  48 would … will had I been able to act as I wished, I would not have gained freedom in such a manner

  51 take note of i.e. find

  52 change exchange of advantages

  55 comfort hearten, encourage

  67 dews disease-ridden dampness

  68 Mistrust Cassius’ doubt

  71 apt readily believing

  72 The … not? i.e. the apparent capture of Titinius

  74 the mother i.e. the melancholy mind

  79 darts arrows/spears

  79 envenomèd poisoned

  86 wreath of victory i.e. laurel wreath

  91 apace quickly

  92 regarded respected, esteemed

  93 part role, duty/proper conduct

  101 own proper very own

  Low muted, quiet

  103 whe’er whether